Why?

It is important to look within for your goals and challenges.  What was it about the race you have planned to do which made you enter?  Why do you challenge yourself with these events?  Why do you train at all? Why, why, why…. (do I sound like a 2 year old yet?)

Why is a powerful word, and you should start here.  Using Simon Sinek’s ‘Golden Circle’ idea, you should clarify what your why is.  To help you get there you can use techniques such as the ‘5-whys’ or even ‘7-whys’.  These are well proven techniques to improve your focus and improve your chances of success (in all aspects of life).  The German philosopher Frederick Nietzche once said ‘He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how’.

Your why might be that it is your headspace time; it helps you keep you weight healthy, or it might be the social element; you like helping others by raising money for charity, to set a good example to your family / friends, to explore and see new places, to explore your own limits, improve your confidence.  The list is endless, and your answer needs to come from deep within you (intrinsic) and not be driven by external factors (extrinsic) such as ‘because my friends do it’. An example might be; I want to run a major marathon (why?), because it is an iconic distance (why?), it’s a long way and it’s hard! (why), I want to push myself to be fit and healthy (why), because it takes dedication to achieve (why?), I want my kids to follow my example and be fit and active.

So where does your motivation lie?  Finding your why will help you stay motivated.  Once you have your ‘why’ you can look at the ‘how?’.  These are otherwise known as process goals.

Process goals are the building blocks which will help you achieve your goal; the behaviours, actions, strategies and tactics you need in place.

Do you need to work on physical attributes such as balance, flexibility, mobility, strength, speed, agility, coordination, strength endurance, speed endurance, base endurance?

How about psychological attributes?  Look at including more meditation and mindfulness into your practice.  Mental skills are just as important as physical, often the fastest athletes, or those who finish, are not the fittest but the one who makes the right decisions at the right time.  Thus you can work on techniques to control your thoughts and feelings, helping you make the right decisions at the right times (in life as much as in racing).

How about environmental factors?  Do you need to do a kitchen makeover in order to improve your nutrition?  Do you need to learn to cook!?!  Do you need to spend time sorting out your garage/pain-cave?

The list is endless.  The point being is there are countless areas we can be working on to grow and improve as individual, which will all help you develop and be the best version of yourself in both Health & Performance.